About us

Grass + Grit Farm is run by James Walton, Maddie Morley, and Benjamin Roberts. We met while farming together in 2014 and quickly realized we had a shared vision for our farming future. We raise pastured pork, lamb, goat, eggs, and a variety of poultry, including chicken and duck. You can buy our products through CSA shares and at farmers markets.

At Grass + Grit, we value diversity, collaboration, creativity, and transparency in how we farm and interact with our community. Our farm strives to balance the needs of our animals, the health of the land, and the profitability of our business. At the core of our values is an exemplary standard of animal welfare.

We prioritize our animals’ need to express their natural instincts while protecting and improving the soil, water, and surrounding ecology of the farm.

James

I was born and raised in Queens, NY. Nestled between the suburbs of Long Island and the concrete jungle of Manhattan, I never considered a life in agriculture. That was until a family member's health issues made me reflect on my own eating habits. It was then that I decided to venture out of the art world where I was working and into the natural world. Having been farming for three years, I have a new appreciation for what it means to support local farms, eat responsibly, and take good care of the land which gives back more than most people know.

Maddie

I had little exposure to agriculture while growing up, but my commitment to animal welfare started at an early age. At 10 years old, I learned about the terrible conditions in industrialized livestock operations, and I swiftly decided that I would be a vegetarian. My vegetarianism lasted for 14 years until I became aware of a different kind of livestock farming: one where animals are raised in a thoughtful, humane, and environmentally sensitive way. I've been hooked on that style of farming and the amazing food it produces ever since.

Ben

I grew up with a bounty of fresh vegetables from my family’s garden, a robust raspberry patch, and an all around love for the outdoors and hard work. After spending the better part of my professional career in culinary arts and hospitality, I made the jump into farming in 2013. I’ve grown organic vegetables in Maine, raised pastured livestock right here in the Hudson Valley, and I am continuing my work as a grazing specialist for a local goat dairy and creamery as we get Grass + Grit Farm off the ground.

our animals

Here at Grass + Grit, we have carefully selected each species and breed that we raise. Each animal plays an integral role within a larger system, and these choices are critical in maintaining the health of our animals and the land we farm. With careful planning, we rotationally graze these different groups of animals to produce delicious meat and eggs while also improving soil fertility and pasture productivity.

We have specifically sought out breeds that are hardy and proven to thrive on pasture. Whenever possible, we raise heritage breeds that celebrate the rich farming history of the Hudson Valley. In many cases, our animals are also considered “dual-purpose,” which means they can be raised for more than one product, such as sheep for wool and meat, or chickens for eggs and meat.

Roll over or click on the photos below for more information on each animal.

Our pigs are raised on pasture and in the woods where they lounge under oak trees (they love acorns!). In addition to nuts and fresh pasture, they receive non-GMO feed that is grown and milled locally in Hudson, NY. Our pigs are a mix of different heritage breeds, giving them excellent foraging abilities.

We raise a small group of Khaki Campbell and Cayuga ducks for eggs, and Grimaud Pekin ducks for meat. According to local lore, the black-feathered Cayuga breed developed from a pair of wild ducks living in a pond in Dutchess County, New York - right across the river from us! Cayuga ducks are a dual-purpose breed that can be used for egg or meat production. Our Khaki Campbells are excellent foragers that produce white and tinted eggs with outstanding flavor and texture. We also keep a few African geese as guardian animals to protect our ducks and laying hens against predators.

We raise heritage-breed laying chickens including Silver Laced Wyandotte, Ameraucana, Buff Orpington, and Australorp. Our hens enjoy continuous access to fresh pasture, a roomy mobile coop for shelter, and a supplemental diet of non-GMO grain. All of our laying hens are dual-purpose breeds, so we'll have meaty stew birds when it's time to retire the hens from egg laying.

Our goat herd consists entirely of Kiko goats, a hardy breed that is known for producing deliciously mild-flavored meat. Our goats are 100% forage-fed: while they enjoy nibbling on fresh grass, they especially love eating plants like multiflora rose and wild grapevines. Their knack for taking down brushy plants is helping us reclaim and restore our pastures.

We raise 100% grass-fed Katahdin and Coopworth sheep. The Coopworth sheep are a dual-purpose breed that produces incredibly beautiful wool in addition to tasty meat. Katahdin sheep, on the other hand, have hair (like goats) rather than wool. Katahdins do very well in our climate and are known for producing high quality, mild-flavored meat.

Our meat chickens are raised on pasture and moved to fresh grass on a daily basis. They play an integral role in the farm by fertilizing the pastures with their manure, which leads to healthier soils and better forage for all the animals on the farm. We raise Freedom Rangers, which are specifically bred to thrive in a free-range, pasture-based system like ours. They take longer to reach harvest weight than industrial breeds which leads to more tender, succulent meat that is higher in beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids.

CSA

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. By signing up as one of our members, you will receive a share of our harvest. In purchasing a CSA share upfront, our members are investing in the farm - sharing in the risk and reward of all that Grass + Grit is producing this season. Not only does this relationship provide us with capital to cover expenses, it also fosters a relationship between us (the farmers) and you (the consumer). We hope this relationship will help inform us on how we can best serve our community as we grow our business.

We offer a Winter Meat + Egg Share and a Summer Meat + Egg Share. See below for details.

Meat + Egg Share

Winter share: January to May

Summer share: June to November

The Meat + Egg Share offers a diverse selection of our pasture-raised pork, chicken, lamb, goat, and duck. You’ll also enjoy at leastone dozen eggs from our heritage breed hens at each pick up. This is a “farmer’s choice” share, but we do build in options along the way so you can pick, for instance, your favorite kind of sausage.

You will receive 6-10 lbs of meat and at least 1 dozen eggs at each monthly distribution. Last, but not least, you’ll get exclusive access to Members Only specials during the season.

SHARE DETAILS

WHAT'S IN A SHARE?

Over the course of the share, you will receive pastured chicken, pork, lamb, goat, duck and eggs. All meat will arrive frozen in vacuum sealed packaging. You will receive 6-10 lbs of meat plus at least one dozen eggs at each distribution. You can also pre-order additional meat and eggs for pick-up at your distribution. Plus you will receive Members Only specials, which will be announced by email before each distribution.

A typical distribution might look something like this:

2 lbs Pork Loin Chops

2 lbs Goat Stew

2 lbs Bone-in Chicken Breast

1 lb Ground Lamb

1 dozen Chicken Eggs

Another example might be:

1 Rack of Lamb

1 lb Bacon

2 lbs of Chorizo or Sweet Italian Sausage

1 Whole Chicken (4-5 lbs)

1 dozen Chicken Eggs

Keep in mind that certain things (like duck) might only show up in the share once or twice because we raise them in relatively small amounts, while just about every distribution will have some mix of pork, chicken, lamb, and goat.

WHEN & WHERE?

Pick up is once a month for both summer and winter shares. The winter share runs from January through May (5 pick-ups total). The summer share runs from June through November (6 pick-ups total).

Please note that it is your responsibility to pick up your share during the time frame specified for your pick-up site. Due to our own scheduling and storage, we cannot hold your share for a later pick-up. If you’re heading out of town or you’re unable to pick up your share for any reason, we suggest asking a friend to pick up for you.

PRICE

Winter Meat + Egg Share: $495 pick up once a month for a total of 5 distributions over 5 months

Summer Meat + Egg Share: $595pick up once a month for a total of 6 distributions over 6 months

If you sign up after the first distribution, your share will automatically pro-rate based on the number of distributions left.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Payment can be made by check, PayPal, or SNAP/EBT benefits.

Paying for your share with check or PayPal

For those paying with check or PayPal, we offer two payment plans:

Payment in Full: Pay for your share all at once at sign up. Many of our biggest expenses occur in the spring and fall, so by paying upfront, you are directly helping us cover costs like animal purchasing, processing and butchery to (quite literally) make the bacon that will end up on your table.

Half Now, Half Later: Pay half at sign up and the other half by your first pick-up date.

If neither of those options work for you, please contact us to work out an alternative payment plan.

Paying for your share with SNAP/EBT benefits

We are pleased to accept SNAP/EBT benefits as payment for the Meat + Egg Share. The information below applies only to members paying for their share with SNAP/EBT benefits. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

Payment: The cost of each pick-up is $99 per month. You must pay for your share at every pick-up. You can pay with your EBT card, or cash/check. If you have insufficient funds on your EBT card to make a payment, you still need to pay for your share when you pick it up with cash or check.

Refundable Deposit: A deposit of $60 is required upon signing up for a share. You may make your deposit with cash or check. Your deposit will be refunded to you at the last pick-up as described below.

Missed Pick-ups: It is your responsibility to pick up your share at the date and time of the scheduled pick-up. You may arrange for someone else to pay for and pick up your share if you cannot. If you miss a pick-up, you will lose the entire $60 deposit. If you miss more than one pick-up, we may cancel your membership.

FAQs

What kind of meat and eggs will I get?

Our Meat + Egg Share is a bit like the chef’s tasting menu of meat CSAs. You’ll get 100% grass-fed lamb and goat, pasture-raised pork, chicken, and even a taste of our duck plus eggs from our heritage breed hens (usually chicken eggs but on occasion, duck eggs too). The share includes chops, sausage, bacon, ground meat, stew, braising cuts, and roasts. You’ll also get a mix of whole chickens and parts like breasts, legs, or wings.

How much meat will I get?

You will receive 6-10 lbs of meat at every distribution. Why the range? It will depend on the value of cuts being given out that distribution, and not every distribution will be exactly the same value. In general, you’ll receive more pounds of meat when the cuts are of slightly lower value and and a bit less meat when the cuts are a higher value.

Will I get equal amounts of each type of meat?

The short answer is no. We don’t produce equal amounts of each kind of meat, so we need to balance our CSA offerings with our production. You’ll get more pork than any other kind of meat, with chicken coming in second, and then lamb and goat. You’ll get a taste of our duck, but it might only show up in the share once or twice because we only produce a small amount over the season.

How many people does a share typically feed?

One share will feed between 2 and 4 people, but this really depends on your meat and egg eating habits. If you’re concerned that the share won’t be enough, feel free to inquire about an additional share for a discounted rate. Or you can plan on pre-ordering extra meat and eggs for pick up with your share.

What if I don’t want a certain kind of meat? Can I substitute something else?

We cannot accommodate substitutions at this time. We make every effort to distribute the cuts fairly to all members, which is a logistically challenging endeavor, so we can't accommodate special requests.

Note that you will be able to make a choice in one category at most distributions. For example, we might offer a choice between ground goat or lamb, or two entirely different cuts that have a similar value.

What happens if I can’t pick up my share?

It is your responsibility to pick up your share during the time frame specified for your pick-up site. We understand that everyone has busy schedules and conflicts do arise, but due to our own scheduling and storage, we cannot hold your share for a later pick-up. If you’re heading out of town or you’re unable to pick-up your share for any reason, we suggest asking a friend to pick up for you.

If there is a winter storm that might affect our ability to deliver your share to the pick-up site, we’ll contact you to set up an alternative pick up time. Please keep an eye on your email account if there is a winter storm warning.

Does the meat come fresh or frozen?

All of the meat you receive in your share will arrive frozen in vacuum sealed packaging. This is the most practical way for us to deliver meat to our CSA members. All of our animals are raised outdoors in the warmer months when there is fresh pasture available. We then process, package, and freeze our meat so that you can enjoy it all year long.

Above all, you should know that buying frozen meat does NOT mean you are buying a lower quality product! We’ve all been bombarded with the word “fresh” in marketing campaigns, but the reality is that, if properly packaged, handled and thawed, there is no quality sacrificed in frozen meat. In fact, by buying frozen, you are more likely to be supporting a small, diverse, and sustainable farm like Grass + Grit.

PRICE

Farmers Markets

We're taking a break from markets this winter, but we'll be back at the outdoor Beacon Farmers Market starting in May 2018. In the meantime, check out our Winter Meat + Egg Share!

Price List

All meat is vacuum sealed and frozen at peak flavor. Availability will vary throughout the year. Our lamb and goat is 100% grass fed, and our poultry, pork, and eggs are pasture-raised. All of our products are non-GMO and raised without synthetic hormones. You can read more about our animals and how we raise them here.